Coin-controlled newspaper-vending machine.



m 699,252. Patented May 6, I902.

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com CONTROLLED NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE.

' (Application filed July 10, 1901.

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No. 699,252. Patented May 6, I902.

' A. B. SMITH.

COIN CONTROLLED NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 10, 1901.

(No Model.)

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No. 699,252. Patefited May 6, I902;

A. 0. SMITH.

COIN CONTROLLED NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 10, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED ST TES- PAT T OFFICE.

ALBERT D. SMITH, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TOIHENRYY o. WOEHLER AND FREDERICK WQEHLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COlN QONTROLLED NEWSPAPER-VENDING MACHINES SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,2?2, dated May 6, 1902. Application filed July 10, 1901. Serial No. 67,744. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. SMITH, a citi- -zen of the United States, residing at St; Louis,

State of Missouri, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Newspaper-Vending Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in coin-controlled newspaper-vending ma-' chines; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the coin controlled mechanism as seen mounted on the inner face of the front wall Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the upper portion thereof. Fig. 7 is an edge view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the side wallof the recepta'' cle being-removed to show the construction of theinterior' of said receptacle. Fig. Sis

a horizontal section on line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig.

9 is a plan of the inside face of the coin-advanoing disk, showing manner of supporting two one-cent pieces. Fig. 10 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 11 is a perspective of the coin-cup. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the rock-shat t and tongue carried by the same for closing the coin-slit upon the exhaustion of the contents of the receptacle. Fig. 13 i s a sectional detail on line 13 13 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 14 is an end view of the winding-spool looking toward the base thereof.

The object of my invention is to construct a coin controlled newspaper vending machine which will deliver either a daily or Sunday paper, according to the denomination of the coin introduced into the machine, the mechanism being so constructed as to be 0perative either by a one-cent piece, by two one-cent pieces, (for a two-cent paper,) or by a five-cent piece, the principleof construction of the device, however, permitting the machine to be set with very slight alterations (apparent to the skilled mechanic) to operate with coin of any prevailing denomination.

A further object of the present invention is to construct a machine which will besimple, one containing a minimum number of parts, one which is positive and reliable, one which may be cheaply manufactured, one which is compact and not liable to get out of order, and one possessing further and other inherent advantages better apparent from a detailed description of the invention, whichis' as follows:

Referring to the drawings, R represents a suitable receptacle having top lids L of any approved construction, the said receptacle being divided by partitions P into a series of vertical compartments 0, each designed to receive and temporarily hold a newspaper N, each paper resting with its lower edge against a sliding door or gate -D, operating in curved grooves or ways W. In the operation of the machine the sliding gate. is withdrawn from under the bottoms of the several compartments, leaving the papers thus unsupported to drop down and gravitate into a catch-basin B, through the open mouth M of which the paper is delivered to the customer. The front wall of the receptacle Rhas formed therein the coin-slot S, through which the coin is introduced, which slot is closed from the insidein the final advance or movement ofthe door D by the upper edge of the door engaging the balance-arm A of a rock-shaft 'r,respectively pivoted-between the side wall of'the receptacle and the adjacent side wall too withdrawing the tongue T from the slot. The extent to which the shaft is rocked is determined by the limiting-arm A, carried at the opposite end of said shaft and formed integrally with the tongue T, the said arm A striking the inner face of the front wall of the receptacle in thus resuming the normal position. The object of closing the slot 8 in the manner indicated is to prevent introduction of coin into the machine when its contents are exhausted.

The coin-controlled device by which the door D is permitted to advance to allow for the release of a paper from any compartment 0 will presently be described; but it may be stated at this juncture that no paper is fully released until the door D has advanced the full width of the space separating any two division-walls P. The reason of this is (as later apparent) that such full advance is necessary to insure resumption of the coin-controlled parts to their normal positions for the reception of any successive coin introduced into the machine. InthecaseofaSundayedition, which fairly fills the compartment C to its full capacity, there is little or no danger of the paper dropping out until the door is fully withdrawn from under it, (since one edge of the paper will remain supported on the door until the withdrawal of the latter is complete but with the daily, which is a much thinner sheet, it might drop at the initial movement of the door, and to avoid this possibility I provide each partition P with a spring or resilient arm 2, which forces the sheet well up against the opposite wall, or that which the receding edge of the door D is last to leave, the frictional contact between the arm 2 and paper, while sufficient to force the latter against the opposite wall, as indicated, being insufficient to prevent the paper from dropping the moment the latter is left unsupported. To prevent the opposite edges of the paper from fouling the ways or grooves WV, I provide the side walls of the receptacle opposite each compartment 0 with the downwardly and inwardly flaring ribs 3, these serving to guide the paper in its descent into the chute or catch-basin B.

The coin-controlled mechanism will now be described.

Mounted on a rotatable shaft 4, carried by the front wall of the receptacle adjacent to the discharge end of the coin-chute 1, is a coin intercepting and advancing disk 5, provided along one face thereof (the face next to the inner surface of said front wall) with a groove or way 6, through which coin of one cent denomination is free to pass. To operate the machine with a single one-cent piece, the latter is temporarily supported on the inner end of an adjusting-screw 7, carried by the disk and projecting into the said groove or way, the screw being so situated as to allow a segment of the coin to project a suitable distance beyond the periphery of the disk. In case two one-cent pieces are used prevent the coin from dropping into the groove, but permitting it to project beyond the periphery of the disk, as in the ease of the one-cent pieces, it being understood that the machine is operative so long as a coin of any denomination has a portion of its body projecting beyond the periphery of the disk 5. The construction of the disk 5 is further characterized by a peripheral recess 8, limited by the shoulders 9 9, the disk at a point slightly beyond the shoulder 9' displayinga slight eccentricity and having pivoted thereto at such point a gravity-pawl 10, which is adapted to advance or rotate in conjunction with the disk 5 a cone-shaped winding spool or drum l1, loosely mounted on the inner end of the shaft 4, the outer projecting end of the shaft 4 being provided with a crank arm or handle 12. The spool 11 has formed thereon a pcripheral groove or spiral way 1 1, along which is adapted to wind the chain or cord 13, whose one end is secured to the rear lower edge of the gate D and whose opposite end is secured to the tapering or outer end of the spool, the cord passing intermediately over aguide-pulley 11, mounted on the front wall of the receptacle at a point adjacent to the side of the coin-chute.

Pivoted at one end to the front wall of the receptacle and adapted to swing in a plane parallel to the plane of the rotation of the disk 5 and superposed above the latter is a releasing-lever 15, so termed since it releases the disk from a normally locked position when a coin of proper denomination is introduced into the machine. The lever 15 is provided with a detent or tooth 16, normally resting at the base of the recess 8 and limiting the rotation of the disk 5 in either direction by coming in contact with one or the other of the terminal shoulders 9 9, (when no coin has been lodged in the disk 5.) The free end of the lever 15 has formed therewith a curved depending arm 15, Whoseinner edge is normally substantially tangent to the curvature of the disk 5, the coin 16', when introduced into the coin-chute, dropping into the groove of the disk 5 and initially occupying a position in the angle formed between the lever 15 proper and its depending arm 15'. The latter is guided by a bracket 15, secured to a lug 18, formed on the coin-chute.- Upon turning the shaft 4 (after the introduction of a coin or coins into the machine) in the direction shown by arrows in Figs. 1 and 5 the coin (whose rear edge is resting against the tooth or projection 19, forming an extension. of the adjacent wall of the groove 6) will be advanced or rotated in the same direction and in its advance will constantly wedge.

itself under the adjacent orinner curved edge of the arm 15, gradually raising it until the detent 16 has been elevated sufficiently to clear the shoulder 9' and allow an uninterrupted revolution to be imparted to the disk 5, Fig. 2. During the rotation of the disk5 in the direction referred to the gravity-pawl l0, pivoted to said disk,- engages one of the: ratchet-teeth 19, formed at the base of the winding-spool 11, compelling the latter to rotate in the same direction, thereby winding per to drop from said compartment in the- In practice the.

manner already indicated. shaft 4 is given approximately a half-revolution to effect a discharge of a paper from any compartment, the crank-arm, 12 normallyhanging nearly vertical and being limited by a peg 20, removed a little less than one hundred and eighty degrees from such initial position. After the lever 15 has been sufficiently elevated by the coin to allow for the necessary revolution of the disk and after the shoulder 9 has passed the detent-16 the lever gradually settlesdown, allowing the detent to ride over the periphery ofthe disk, Fig. 3, the coin about this time becoming disengaged and dropping onto the inclined plate ortrack 21, from which it rolls into a money-box 22.

- (Shown in Figs. 1, 7, and 11.) .Upon releasing the handle 12 the weighted end thereof will cause it to automatically drop back to its lowest position, carrying and rotating with it the disk 5 and pawl 10 (which now be-.

comes disengaged from the tooth 19 it had just advanced) and shifting back to its initial relative position the pivotal point of the pawl, whereby the free end thereof drops behind the next of the series of ratchet-teeth 19 on-the drum or spool,'ready to advance the latter with the introduction of a fresh coin into the machine. After the disk 5 and winding-spool 11 have been rotated to effect the release of-one paper it becomes necessary (since the spool is loose on the shaft 4) to prevent the unwinding of the spool under the weight of the gravitating door D (constantly drawing on the cord 13) during the interval between the moment of disengage-.

ment of the pawl 10 from any one toothof the spool-ratchet '19 and its rengagment with the next tooth, as aforesaid. This unwinding is prevented by the locking-pawl 23, pivoted opposite the track 21 the free end of the said pawl being forced into engagement with the ratchet-teeth 19 by one end of a lever 24, pivoted to the front wall of the receptacle, said end being confined between two lugs 25 25, carried by the pawl, the opposite end of the lever being confined between two lugs 26 26 at the lower end of a,

gravity-bar 27 movablevertically along the vfront wall of the receptacle and guided thereon by a lug 28, passed through an elongated :opening 29 of the bar, a pin 30, passed transversely though said lug, retaining the bar in place. guide. .From the conneetionsdescribed it is apparent that the weight of thegravity-bar 27 will cause the lug 26 to bear against the adjacent end of the lever 24, raising the 0p; posite end and causingit to bear against the .lug 25 of the pawl 23 and force the free end of the latter into engagement'with the winding-spool for the purpose abovespecified.

The elongated opening .29 permitsa certain forced the tongue T into the coin-slot, preventing the insertion of any coin into the machine when its contents had been exhausted, and as the gate D is prevented from dropping back orreceding from any position to which it may have been advanced by the engagement of the locking-pawl 23 with the ratchetteeth of the windingspool some provision must be made for resetting. the machinethat is, allowing the door Dto gravitate back to its original position for closing the bottoms of the several compartments 0. This is accomplished as follows: The operator after unlocking the padlock by which the lids of the receptacle are kept closed opens said lids and, inserting his hand into the receptacle from above, raises the gravity-bar to its upward limit, Fig. 4. This action results in forcing downward the inner end of the lever 24, causing the same to bear against the operator further rotates the shaft 4 and disk 5 carried thereby in a direction reverse to its normal direction of rotation (when the machine is in operation) until, the pivotal point of the advancing pawl lO'has been swung around far enough to cause the freeend of the pawl to gravitate out ofengagement with the ratchet-teeth of the spool, (see Fig. '4,) so that/the spool now becomes The peg 28- serves as. an additional.

.fully released, and being free to rotate on the shaft 4 the weight of the door D will cause i the latter to gravitate back to its original position under the several compartments O, the drop of the door to such original position drawing on the cord 13 and unwinding the spool. The operator now releases the gravitybar, first turning back the crank 12 to allow the pawl 10 to reengage the spool, when the parts will be restored to their original positions, Fig. 1, and the several compartments can be filled with fresh papers.

It will be noticed that the winding spool or drum is cone-shaped-that is to say, it winds more cord near the base than at its outer end. The object of this construction is for the following reason: The path of the door D is in a curve which inclines more or less abruptly as it approaches the front of the receptacle, and accordingly, while the only distance of advance of the door which is available to allow for the release of the paper is the horizontal component of the inclined path which the door assumes as it passes under the bottoms of the forward compartments, it follows from the gradual increase of such inclined travel that the drum or spool must take on a corresponding increase of length of cord to withdraw the door the full horizontal width of such compartment. Hence the base of the spool toward which the winding approaches is made of larger diameter, and the periphery is substantially conical.

Theoretically the are through which the crank 12 is revolved to advance the windingspool carried by the shaft at the necessary part of a revolution to disengage a paper from its supporting-gate D is one hundred and twenty degrees, (there being three ratchet-teeth 19 at the base of the spool butpra-ctically while the arc is less than one hundred and eighty degrees it is a little more than one hundred and twenty degrees on account of lost play and slight excess of movement to allow the pawls to work freely. This excess, however, is never suflicient to advance the gate D materially over the full width of one compartment 0. Another reason why the are of rotation of the handle 12 is greater than that of the periphery of the spool is that the latter is advanced by the end of a pawl whose pivotal axis while secured at the periphery of the coin-advancing disk its free end lies substantially across the axis of rotation of said disk, and while the pivotal point describes an arc the free end of the pawl describes approximately only the versed sine of said arc. Of

course when no coin is introduced the extent of rotation of the coin-advancing disk in either direction is limited by the shoulders 9 9 an amount insuflicient to have any appreciable effect on the gate D.

Preferably the coin-slot is provided with a swinging cover-plate p, which can be swung to one side when a coin is introduced into the machine. The money-box 22 is provided with a handle-bar h, by which the box can be removed from the top of the receptacle, and on the side of the receptacle are strips 5, between which and the wall of the receptacle are formed ways for receiving a bulletin-board showing contents of paper and main topics of the day.

It is apparent that I may depart, in a measu re, from the details without affecting the nature or spirit of my invention. It is also apparent that I may not limit its application to the vending of newspapers.

Having described my invention, what I claim is a 1. In a coin-controlled vending-machine, a suitable coininterceptingandadvancingdisk, a releasing-lever normally locking the same against rotation, a spool loosely mounted on the disk-shaft, a pawl pivoted to the disk and normally engaging the spool, a gravity-bar adapted to disengage the releasing-lever from the disk upon movement of the gravity-bar in one direction, a lockingpawl normally engagin g the spool, said locking-pawl being adapted to be disengaged from the spool simultaneously with the disengagement of the releasing lever from the disk, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a coin-controlled vending-machine, a suitable coin intercepting and advancing disk, a releasing-lever normally locking the same against rotation, a spool loosely mounted on the disk-shaft, a pawl pivoted to the disk and normally engaging the spool, a gravity-bar having an ofiset for the free passage therethrough of the releasing-lever, a locking-pawl pivoted opposite the base of the gravity-bar, a lever pivoted between the locking-pawl and gravity-bar, lugs on the gravity-bar and locking-pawl respectively which the opposite ends of the pivoted lever are respectively adapted to engage, the gravity-bar upon being raised serving to disengage the releasing-lever and locking-pawl from the disk and spool respectively, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT D. SMITH.

Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, G. L. BELFRY.

ICC 

